Myfireside

ABSTRACT

A fire pit is disclosed that has openings in its side walls which are covered by replaceable panels that contain decorative designs and phrases and which are made visible when there is a fire or other source of radiant energy in the pit. The designs and phrases provide a view of the radiation which may be provided by combustion taking place in the pit. A metal screen mesh can be fastened to the openings to prevent the escape of embers when the radiation source is combustion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overhauls the fireside experience by allowing theuser to change the visual experience for any special occasion, for anyholiday, or as they please. Currently, there are many fire enclosuresthat have shapes, designs, drawings, logos, etc. cut out of themallowing the fire to be seen through; however, they cannot be changed asthey are a permanent part of the enclosure. The present invention allowsthe user to change the visual experience using the same enclosure asremoveable/replaceable panels are provided with unique and desirableopenings through which the fire can be viewed.

The invention can be applied to any fire enclosure (i.e. mobile firepit, permanent fire pit, fire ring, fireplace, fireplace screen, etc.);however, to explain we focus on the mobile fire pit. The term “fire pit”will be used when referring to all such structures. During moderateweather conditions, the structure may be illuminated by sources otherthan fire and can still serve as an outdoor place for a group gathering.

In a preferred embodiment, the fire pit circumference consists of atleast one window and interior mesh screen (for safety purposes) allowingthe fire to be seen through it. In addition, there are anchors allowingsolid panels with cutouts to be secured around the circumference of thefire pit changing the visual experience of the fire through these sidepanels. The user can remove the panels and replace with different ones,those having different viewing portals. Additionally, this invention canbe applied to the enclosure's top or lid.

The fire pit can be any shape from the popular cylindrical or roundshape to any geometric shape such as triangular, square, or any othermulti-faceted geometric configuration. Variations on the curved shapeare also possible, such as oval shaped. Even fire pits that are notconstructed of metal can be provided with a “window” which can acceptpanels with desired openings.

Fire pit suppliers can include, incorporate, or add our invention intotheir products. First, the fire pit needs to have a window in a sidewall, a top or lid window, or one will need to be built into the design.Of course, there can be multiple windows. The window size and distancearound the pit can vary. It is recommended that attaching an inner meshscreen is desirable for safety purposes; however, this is not necessaryto achieve the desired visual effect.

Second, a method for temporarily attaching or anchoring a panel over thewindow must be selected. Some examples include installing orincorporating a keyhole post, latch, screw/nut, wing nut, track,channel, hook, clip, slot, connecting bracket, etc. into various pointsaround the fire pit. In fact, the panel can even secure over the topedge of the fire pit. The quantity and location of the attaching pointswill be dependent on the enclosure.

Third, panels with viewing portals need to be attached over the windows.The viewing portals can be jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, trees forChristmas, fireworks for Jul. 4^(th), turkeys for Thanksgiving, rabbitsfor Easter, birthday balloons, different names of people for variousevents, etc. The list is endless from seasonal celebrations to lifecelebrations to cool art, etc.

The novel features which are characteristic of the invention, both as tostructure and method of operation thereof, together with further objectsand advantages thereof, will be understood from the followingdescription, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way ofexample. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawingsare for the purpose of illustration and description only, and they arenot intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fire pit according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fire pit of FIG. 1.

Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown, in perspective view, a firstembodiment of a fire pit 10 according to the present invention. In thisembodiment, the fire pit 10 is cylindrical and rests on supporting legs12. A top cover 14 is provided to help prevent the escape of embers froma fire. The fire pit 10 has side walls 16 with window openings (bestseen in FIG. 2) onto which are fitted decorative panels 18 which includedecorative designs 20 which are openings in the panel 18 through which afire can be viewed.

As shown, some designs 20 are representational such as the flag pattern22 and others may be slogans or other alphanumeric designs, as the catchphrases 24. The panels are attached to the window openings by variousmeans, here a keyhole slot 26 in the panel 18 which fits over the headof a bolt 28

Turning next to FIG. 2, there is shown, in exploded perspective, thefire pit 10 of FIG. 1. With the panels 18 removed, the windows 30 in theside walls 16 can easily be seen. For safety reasons, it has been deemedas desirable to have a metal mesh screen 32 in each window 30. Thekeyhole opening 26 and bolt heads 28 are also more clearly shown. Abottom plate 34 is provided to hold whatever combustibles will be usedand to retain any ash or other residue when combustion is complete.

Others skilled in the art may devise other shapes of the fire pit andother decorative designs and patterns which can be illuminated by a firein the pit or, in moderate weather, some illumination source other thanfire. Accordingly, the scope of the invention need only be limited bythe scope of the claims appended hereto.

1. In a container for combustibles having vertical walls; At least oneopening in said walls for viewing the combustibles and At least onedecorative panel including design patterns which are visible whencombustion is occurring, said panel being adapted to be mounted oversaid opening.
 2. The container of claim 1 further including a mesh paneladapted to be mounted adjacent said opening.
 3. The container of claim 1having at least two sidewall openings and at least two decorativepanels, each adapted to be mounted over an opening.
 4. The container ofclaim 1 having at least three sidewall openings and at least threedecorative panels, each adapted to be mounted over an opening.
 5. Acontainer for combustibles comprising: a. A base member, b. acylindrical side wall having at least one window opening in said sidewall through which radiant energy can be viewed; c. a metallic screenmesh adjacent said window opening to reduce the hazard of escapingembers during combustion; and d. at least one decorative panel adaptedto cover each said window opening, said decorative panel includinggraphic designs and alpha numeric phrases cut through said panel so thata radiation source in the container can be viewed through said designsand phrases.
 6. The container of claim 5 having at least two windowopenings and two decorative panels.
 7. The container of claim 5 havingat least three window openings and three decorative panels.